Dog Pain Killer Guide

Summary:

"The selection of a a dog pain killer is
based on the intensity of pain, purpose (pre-operative, long term care)
and underlying cause. Dog pain
meds can take the form of a
NSAID, Steroids, Opioids, Alpha-2 Inhibitors or natural remedy. Options
include oral, topical or analgesics administered directly into the
body. Pain in dogs can also be managed with alternative approaches such
as chiropractic care, massage, herbal remedies and dietary change.
Some experimentation may be required until the most
effective dog pain med is identified. Paitents will be monitored for
response to
treatment while trying to find the medicaiton available in the lowest
dose, fewest side effects and best outcome. Dogs are carefully
monitored for kidney, liver and gastrointestinal problems. When medical
treatment is not effective, other options such
as surgery are considered. Never give your dog any drug unless it is
with the advice of a
veterinarian."

Overview Dog Pain Releif

The use of dog analgesics before surgery or for pain management
can reduce the long term impact of pain and the degree of pain. If a
dog is recovering from surgery, pain usually subsides as the dog heals.
Stronger dog pain medications such as opiods are often used for 12 to
24 hours after surgery. NSAIDs are most effective when administered
after surgery and are for longer term use.

Before prescribing any medication, your veterinarian will evaluate
the patients behavior, liver function and kidney function. You should
also
know the potential side effects so you can monitor your dog. Typical
side effects are stomach problems such as bleeding (gastrointestinal
hemorrhage) and stomach upset (gastric upset), particularly if your dog
is taking NSAIDs (non-steroidal anti inflammatory drugs). The
veterinarian will also monitor the liver enzymes and and kidney
function.

Types of Dog Pain Relievers

There are several categories of canine pain medications:

Conventional Analgesics should be an acceptable choice for
managing pain and inflammation.

Unconventional Analgesics are medications designed for other
purposes that are effective at relieving pain. There are two types:

Adjunctive analgesics which help to supplement the pain and
inflammation relieving properties of other drugs.

Adjuvant analgesics are drugs that are prescribed to improve the
way other drugs work.

Dog pain killer examples include:

Tranquilizers (phenothiazines, benzodiazepines): this approach
relaxes the muscles, reduces anxiety and fear and is used with other
analgesics.

N-methyl-D-aspartate (NMDA): this drug works by blocking
sensitization in the spinal cord. It helps protect against a syndrome
called "wind-up" where an earlier injury has a lingering effect in your
dog, even if the pain has passed. If your dog has the expectation of
pain they will still react like they are still experiencing the pain.
It could take several hours for the effect to go away.

Anticonvulsants: An example is the drug Gabapentin which may help
reduce pain and central sensitization in chronic pain patients.

Corticosteroids (prednisolone) is a strong antiinflammatory and
immunosuppressive drug. It greatly reduces the feeling of pain.

Natural Remedies are just
starting to be noticed by
mainstream medicine for their ability to help with pain. Glucosamine in
particular has been identified as a natural ingredient that can help
restore cartilage in dogs suffering from some forms of arthritis. A
good product to research is
PetAlive Muscle & Joint Support Formula which is
specifically
formulated to treat Symptoms, relieve pain and reduce stiffness of
arthritis, rheumatism and degenerative Joint Disease in dogs.

Nonsteroidal antiinflammatory agents (NSAIDs)

NSAIDs are the most common type of dog pain killer and are used for
mild to moderate pain. NSAIDs help to control inflammation and pain
caused by some type of irritation or injury. Common symptoms include
areas which are red in color, warm to the touch, are swollen or are
visibly causing pain.

When treating dogs, NSAIDS are specifically used to help with
problems associated with osteoarthritis and any pain after a dog
undergoes surgery. Some dogs react better to one NSAID vs. another. It
is not clear why
this is the case. For this reason your veterinarian may experiment with
two week trials of different medications until one is found that is
best for your dog.

How NSAIDs Work

NSAIDs work by blocking the production of prostaglandins, the body
chemicals that cause inflammation. Prostaglandin is known as a COX
enzyme. There are three types of COX enzymes...1, 2, and 3. While in
the past it wasn't known how NSAIDs work, it is now known that these
drugs inhibit or stop the transmission of COX and that NSAIDs can be
manufactured that target 1, 2 or 3 vs. all at once so each type of
NSAID may have a different effect on your dog. Because of this it pays
to experiment in two week trials with different drugs to understand
which works best (it isn't clearly known how each medication will work
in your specific dog and breed).

Newer dog pain killer medications are safer and cause fewer side
effects. When side
effects do occur, most often they are not serious.
Although NSAID side effects are usually mild, if your dog is taking
NSAIDs he or she needs to be monitored since this class of drugs is
associated with problems such as:

Gastrointestinal ulcers

Intestinal bleeding

Gastrointestinal perforations

Liver problems (toxicity)

Kidney problems (toxicity)

Refusal to eat or eating less

Behavioral Change (depression)* Vomiting

Diarrhea

Black tarry-colored stool

Yellowing of gums

Yellowing of skin

Changes on the surface of the skin (scabs, redness, scratching)

Change in the whites of the eyes

Change in drinking

Changes in skin (scabs, redness, or scratching)

Caution should be taken with dogs that are taking diuretics (helps
dogs increase their amount of urine) or have kidney, heart of liver
problems. Do not assume a NSAID for one dog is safe to give to another
dog. Never give aspirin or corticosteroids along with a NSAID to your
dog.

Brands and Types of NSAIDs for Dogs

Etogesic (etodolac)

Rimadyl (carprofen)

Metacam (meloxicam)

Deramaxx (deracoxib)

Previcox(firocoxib)

Zubrin (tepoxalin)

Novox (carprofen)

Aspirin
is also a NSAID. You should only give your dog medications if under the
advice of a veterinarian since overdoses could have symptoms such as
bleeding.

Opioids

Opioids are a class of drugs that are used in hospitals for severe
pain. This type of drug is popular among veterinarians because it is
safe and if side effects are seen it can be quickly reversed. Options
are commonly used with other classes of drugs such as NSAIDs and
sedatives, particularly to address post operative pain. Opiods are
administered systemic (under the skin), via localized injection,
epidural injection and in the form of a patch (fentanyl).

Morphine is the most common opioid. The drug is used to
sedate your dog and to relieve pain. Side effects of morphine in
addition to the ones listed include low blood pressure (hypotension).

Morphine is
a Commonly Used Dog
Pain Killer Before And Immediately After Surgery

Pentanyl citrate is another opioid which is considered a
very strong drug. It is used as part of a patch on the skin for
extended periods such as 3 days. It can take from 12 to 24 hours for
the drug to be absorbed and effective.

Buprenorphine (Buprenex®) is an opioid that lasts longer
than morphine. It is used when an analgesic is needed for a 4 to 8 hour
period (referred to as a partial agonist)

Butorphanol Tartrate (Torbugesic®). is used in patients
experiencing mild to moderate pain. It is administered either orally or
can be injected. It lasts from 2 hours as a sedative or provides 40
minutes for moderate to mild pain relief. Called a opioid mixed
agonist-Antagonist.

Naloxone Hydrochloride - Used to reverse the effect of
opiates and opiods. Called an opioid antagonist.

Tramadol is effective at controlling moderate to severe
pain. It is administered orally and is commonly used after surgery to
relieve pain. It is also used to treat pain from cancer and orthopedics.

Fentanyl - this dog pain
killer is available in
a patch

Alpha-2 Agonists

An Alpha-2 dog pain killer provides moderate analgeisa and a potent
sedative effect. This class of dog pain killers provide good muscle
relaxation. Side effects can include cardiac disturbances and vomiting.
Brand/pharma names are Domitor (Medetomidine) and Xylazine.

Dog Pain Meds
Such as Medetomidine
(Domitor®) is Frequently Used Alpha-2 Medication

Stem Cell Therapy

Regenerative medicine using stem cells is a relatively new option
for
dog with osetoarthritis (OA). Clinical studies have shown dramatically
positive results in some dogs. The two dog pain killer types are:

Adipose Derived Mesenchmal Stem Cells

Bone Marrow Derived Stem Cells

Steroids

Steroids such as cortisone and prednisone are potent
anti-inflammatory
drugs and are used for more serious cases. They are administered
either via injection or orally. They are often prescribed for things
like arthritis. They work similarly to INSAIDs, but are more powerful.
They are prescribed for more serious pain. They are also sometimes used
to treat conditions such as allergies.

Glucocorticoids such as prednisone are used for maangement of actue
IVDD (Intervertebral Disc Disease) in cage confined dogs. Dogs with
immune mediated diseases require higher doses.

Steroids such as prednisone have a greater risk of side effects than
NSAIDs since they reduce the absorption of glucosamine into the
cartilage. Therefore some vets are reluctant to use them over a long
period of time. Weight gain is a common side effect. Behavioral changes
may also occur, including irritability. A normally "nice" dog may begin
to snap at people.

Topical Dog Pain Meds

Topical analgesics are applied directly to the skin in the form of
an ointment or cream. These types of dog pain killer products are used
when your dog is suffering from:

surface skin wounds

skin punctures

nose problems

urinary catheterization

These products include ingredients such as lidocaine, Bupivacaine,
tetracaine, and epinephrine. You can also use gauze pads with the
medication that can be applied directly to the skin as a dog pain
killer. The topical analgesic usually needs to be on the skin 20 to 30
minutes to be effective.

Local Anesthetic

Lidocaine is a local anesthetic that is a safe analgesic for dogs,
particularly those that suffer from any gastrointestinal problems. Side
effects include muscle tremors, seizures, nausea or vomiting.

Nutraceuticals and
Supplements

By definition a nutraceutical is a food or naturally occurring food
supplement thought to have a beneficial effect on canine health.

Studies have shown that glucosamine helps to improve cartilage
function in dogs and may help to reduce inflammation. A human study
shows that it is as effective as ibuprofen.

Glucosamine and Chondroitin

Human studies also support the use of chondroitin sulfate for pain
reduction. A recent study funded by the NIH indicated that arthritic
human patients had less pain and better function when receiving a
combination of glucosamine and chondroitin sulfate.

Adequan

Adequan is what is known as a polysulfated glycosaminoglycan (PSGAG)
which is a combination of protein and saccharin. It is administered as
by injection into the muscle. Studies have indicated shown that it
helps reduce inflammation, improve diseased cartilage and improves the
range of motion.

Natural Remedies

Natural remedies for muscle and joint support and can have a
positive
impact on the skeletal system and muscles.
PetAlive Muscle & Joint Support Formula
is formulated for this purpose. Their is enough interest in the
anti-inflammatory properties of herbal products that research is
on-going, but not completely absolute. Since these products are side
effect free in the vast majority of dogs, they can be trialed combined
with personal observation of any improvement in your dog.

Glucosamine
and Chondroitin
is also a supplement that has significant scientific support in both
human and canine health to help improve movement in painful joints.

Vitamins and Fatty Acids

Antioxidants are also thought to help dog pain due to inflammation.
Both vitamin
c and vitamin
e can be helpful sources of antioxidants. Only buy products
manufactured for dogs and carefully follow the dosing instructions.

Omega-3
Fatty Acids
may have a positive effect on pain by reducing the production of
elements in the body (leukotrienes) that cause inflammation. In humans,
omega-3 fatty acids have helped some rheumatoid arthritis patients.

Alternative Approaches to Dog Pain Symptom Relief

In
addition to dog pain medications, light to moderate exercise has been
shown to help dogs with arthritis.
Exercise in water is particularly
helpful, although more research is needed on the exact exercise routine
needed. Hydrotherapy, bandaging, physical manipulation such as massage,
chiropractics) and accupuncture are alternative methods instead of or
with the use of a dog pain killer.

Other approaches are:

applying cold to the dog pain site (if sudden over 1st 24 hours)
to decrease inflammation and numb pain.

applying heat for long term pain relief

Dog Food and Pain Management

One of the primary goals of changes in diet are weight reduction by
reducing
the strain on a dog's joints, as in the case when treating hip
dysplasia. The most improvement is seen in dogs that
are no more than 20% over weight, who then undergo a weight reduction
program.

Dog food itself can have a positive impact on dogs that are
suffering from arthritis. In a clinical study, dogs that were fed a
diet specifically formulated for dogs with OA (osteoarthritis) such as Hill's
Prescription Diet j/d, a food rich in Omega-3
fatty acids,
showed improvement over dogs that had a similar arthritic condition,
but that were fed an ordinary diet. The results of the study showed
that "more dogs in the test group had a reduction in pain at the end of
the 90-day trial." 82% of the dogs in the trial that received the new
diet showed improvement.